Customer Reviews

The Magic Knot (Love Spell Paranormal Romance)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's not every day you read a book where the heroine is a rather dull-seeming accountant. Perhaps Rosenwyn Tremain is a bit dull but her life changes overnight when she finds herself driving to Cornwall to carry out an accountancy check on a pub. When she arrives at the pub she meets twin brothers Michael and Niall O'Connor and from that point on nothing is the same. She feels a strange connection to Niall but he's reserved and seems to be hiding something. Part of her reasoning to visit Cornwall is to search for her father, a man she doesn't remember; however there's more to her Dad than she can possibly imagine and meeting him starts her on a quest, along with Niall, Michael and another ususual male, to rescue a whole race of piskies and to attempt to help Niall keep his sister safe.

Rose is a good heroine, a women who's fairly down-to-earth and who is able to take rather dramatic events in her stride, but a woman who also knows to focus on people as the most important thing. Niall, however, was a rather unsatisfactory hero for me; he is a bit too moody and reserved and has a dreadful tendency to not tell Rose what's going on so she's constantly in the dark. The other characters were well described but didn't really ring entirely true for me.

The setting in Cornwall and then Ireland was interesting enough although our English/Irish protagonists slipped into using American language at times, which was rather incongruous. There were some rather dramatic plot events which I felt weren't always handled very well and the central romance didn't feel particularly romantic. However the story was interesting with good pacing and the change in setting from Cornwall to Ireland was also good.

This book was apparently the winner of the 2008 American Title IV contest; although it was a reasonable read it wasn't anything special, at least for this reader, but those who like fairy/sidhe/magical stories should enjoy it.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Helen Scott Taylor's debut paranormal romance THE MAGIC KNOT brings magic into play with a journey through Cornwall to Ireland, land of the mischievous piskies. A delightful fairy tale for romance lovers, THE MAGIC KNOT brings together a refreshingly original hero and heroine, an Irish biker pub owner and an accountant. Love holds the power to free or enslave. The entire romance is fantastic but the ending alone with its stunning imagery of transformation makes this romance one that will live in the imagination long after the book is read.

Despite her mother's warnings to never set foot in Cornwall, accountant Rosenwyn Tremain has little choice in her hunt to find her father. If she can only finish her job to investigate of the finances of the Elephant's Nest Public House quickly, then she will be able to leave and get on with her search. When Michael O'Connor doesn't seem to want to co-operate with the audit, his brother Niall O'Connor seems to be the only means to finish the job. When she finally catches up with the sexy buy ever so stubborn Irishman, Rose knows she should keep a professional distance, but she cannot help but take a look at the Tarot cards to get an inkling of the man behind the beautiful body and seductive accent. How can one man encompass such contradictory aspects? Does she dare trust this man whose past seems cloaked in secrets and betrayal?

Visions of his family's captivity haunt Niall O'Connor, a proud man who refuses to return to Ireland and subjugate himself to the Irish fairy queen Ciar. Suddenly Tristan, accompanied by his sidekick Nightshade, a vampiristic nightstalker, changes the terms of the deal that until now has kept his brother and sister safe. Delivering one special pisky woman to Tristan will insure a protective spell to thwart Ciar's evil plans. When he finds a strange woman snooping in his room, Niall's body tingles with magic, ancient fairy magic. Can this beautiful woman be the key to his family's freedom or will her pisky magic enslave him as well? As both Rose and Niall journey together with different goals in mind, who will gain the upper hand? Can their growing attraction unlock the key to their past and free them for a future endowed not with threats and fear but love, happiness and freedom?

Helen Scott Taylor's THE MAGIC KNOT is a refreshingly original paranormal romance that takes the reader deep into magical Ireland, a land filled with magical piskies and an evil powerful fairy queen. THE MAGIC KNOT brings together a sexy motorcycle-driving Irishman and a slightly insecure but smart accountant with a heart of gold, a woman filled with determination in the face of the unknown. Juxtaposed to the wicked powerful Cian, Rose has an innocence that shines through with beauty in the strange magical world she encounters. Likewise, Tristan's clever manipulations provide a nice contrast to Niall's devotion to his family. The transformation in Rose from a shy numbers-focused accountant into a woman self-assured not only in love but within herself is one of the more moving parts of this story. As Rose looks more deeply into her past, her story resonates with a vision of of hope that moves the spirit. THE MAGIC KNOT has several nice plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Most of all, I found the visual imagery here absolutely stunning. Helen Scott Taylor mesmerizes the reader with dynamic images that evoke whole worlds and at the same time crystallize the depth of romance and its ability to transform not only Niall and Rose, but all around them with a very special kind of power. The incredible ending left me gasping quietly at the sheer beauty, imagination and imagery.

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

On the positive side, Ms Taylor has succeeded in writing an entertaining book. The story is clever and even complex, and contains some original ideas, while still sticking fairly close to fairy legends. I cared enough about the characters and the world of The Magic Knot that I intend to read the next one. And I'm sure there will be a "next one" because this one read like the beginning of a series.

One the "con" side, I was surprised at how clunky the writing was at times and how unevenly the story unfolded. Plus I was dismayed how often the characters jumped *out* of character, delivering lines that seemed to belong to someone else. On several fronts, Ms. Taylor build drama only to let it fizzle out with little resolution and no explanations. I won't give specifics because I don't want to give spoilers, but one incident toward the end of the book that should have been a moving scene of forgiveness and redemption was totally blown off in a "wink, wink, nod, nod" moment that literally had me open mouthed with surprise...and not in a good way.

I have to admit to being surprised by the awards this book has won or been nominated for, and for all the 4 and 5 star reviews. It's not a bad book, in fact it's very entertaining. It just isn't near the best it could be, or the best of its genre. (See Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series, or for grittier urban fantasy, try Jeaniene Frost or Jim Butcher.) I look forward to Ms. Taylor's writings in the hope that this promising new author will hone her craft and develop *into* a 4 and 5 star author.

When her job takes her to a small pub in Cornwall, Rosenwyn hopes to take the opportunity to look for her father. Instead she gets distracted by the beautiful twins who run the place. What she doesn't know is that they are fairies - and she is part pisky herself. The world as she knew it is full of creatures she never imagines, from the piskies, fairies to an intriguing Nightstalker.

Niall has been running from Ireland for awhile, doing all he can to protect his twin brother and leprechaun sister. But Rose challenges him, makes him feel things he had long thought gone from his life. And when they decide to work together on a life or death mission, they find themselves bound to one another in every way that matters.

The plot of The Magic Knot is complicated, but the various strands are handled deftly by Helen Scott Taylor. Each twist and turn is not just unexpected, but believable. The mythology is wonderfully drawn, making the reader want to know more. The Nightstalker is a sympathetic character that I hope to see in another story. I really enjoyed this debut novel from an author with an intriguing new voice in paranormal romance. I Joyfully Recommend The Magic Knot!

Niki
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Accountant Rosenwyn Tremain was warned by her mom to never go to Cornwall where her paternal relatives live. She heeded that advice until her mom passed away. Now Rose has a need to meet the other side of her heritage.

In Cornwall, Rose meets motorcyclist Niall O'Connor. She is attracted to the roguish Irishman, but will not back away from her quest. As she begins to find clues about her father, Rose also learns why her mother warned her to never come to Cornwall and to especially never seek out her dad as he is evil, something she finds out first hand. Only Niall whose tarot card reading includes betrayal can keep her safe if she trusts him while the fairies she encounters have waited for years for her to liberate them.

This is a superb entertaining romantic urban fantasy starring a likable heroine, a mysterious champion or perhaps not, and a horde of villains starting with her father. Intrepid Rose holds the tale together with her determination even after she finally understands why her late beloved mom said to avoid Cornwall and her paternal roots. Fans will enjoy Rose as she meets the other side of the family.

Harriet Klausner

No wonder Helen Scott-Taylor's The Magic Knot won the 2008 American Title Contest. When Rose touches the three linked stones of Niall's Magic Knot, she forges magical lovers' bond with him and creates a love that survives many tribulations at the hands of her evil father. The Magic Knot is a wonderful paranormal story, a Harry Potter for adults, with a good dose of sensual passion. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put down this book.

I was looking for a book which had romance, magic, and an actual plot.
I found it in this book. I read the whole wonderful book in one night.
I couldn't put it down.
It kept me interested in the characters:
Niall, Rose, Michael, and Nightstalker the whole time.
I can add very little to the other comments about this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It is a keeper for me. I do hope Helen Scott Taylor writes more about these magical people in her upcoming books.
What a treat to read a well written paranormal book.
I truly recommend this book to those who love magic and romance.

Taylor was the most recent winner of the American Title contest (IV), and if this book is any indication, she's picked the right career. The Magic Knot is truly a work of art. Although I have read other "fairy" books, this is the first one that didn't become overly explicit, overly dark, or so sunk in the creation of the world that the characters become lost.

As with most of my favorite romances, the characters are front and center of this story. Taylor squeezes a lot of information into her narrative, but never once did I feel that the background was more important than the story or the characters. And while I did like the two main characters, it was the supporting cast that caught my attention. I find myself hoping against hope that their stories are coming next.

For those looking for a fresh take on English/Irish lore, you should try the Magic Knot.

This book is wonderfully written and the characters are believable. The entire book tranports you to the beautiful places where the fairies tread. Taylor writes fluidly and powerfully.
The thing that I enjoyed most about this book was that the hero and heroine actually had to work for their happily ever after. There has been a recent trend in romance writing where the two leads meet and fall instantly in love, while that premise is enforced within this text, the main characters have too many hurdles to jump before the reach their (pardon the pun) mutual satisfaction.
The only part of this book that gave me pause was the underlying air of homoerotcism. There are several instances for me that caused me to raise my eyebrow...now, let me defend myself by saying that this does not normally make me jumpy, but there are a few times in this novel where I doubt the sincerity of the heroes feelings for the heroine, because he shows sexual interest in another man...call me conservative, but I don't like that much ambiguity in my romance novels.
But I digress, this book is orginal and well thought out and I genuinely hope to read more of this author in the future.

Fairies aren't usually my thing, but I LOVED this book! Niall is as sexy a hero as they come. ;-) Helen Scott Taylor is an amazing storyteller and I would buy anything she wrote.